At Bon Steel Park in Melbourne Beach and Spessard Holland South Beach Park

SPACE COAST DAILY TV:Brevard County Jail inmate “Chain Gang” members were on Brevard County south beaches picking up the hundreds of dead fish that have washed ashore due to the recent outbreak of red tide. Space Coast Daily’s Alan Zlotorzynzki stopped by to speak with BCSO Public Information Officer Tod Goodyear.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Volunteers who are helping Keep Brevard Beautiful rid county beaches of dead fish thatwas ashore as a result toxic red tide algae are being heralded for their cleanup efforts, but the best intentions of others have created a new concern that came to light on Friday.

Some beachgoers are collecting fish and then leaving them in plastic bags in areas that are nowhere near the dumpsters used in the daily cleanup mission. That means those bags of dead fish sit on the beach in the hot sun or eventually wash out into the ocean with the tide.

Random bags of fish have begun showing up along the beach. Keep Brevard Beautiful and Brevard County Natural Resources are asking anyone who wants to voluntarily participate in the cleanup effort to work with KBB and its volunteers.

“Peoples’ hearts are in it, and we greatly appreciate it,” said Bryan Bobbitt, deputy executive director for KBB. “We’ve got a lot of sites and we’re hoping those who want to help will work with us.”

KBB provides all of the supplies, including face masks, gloves, shovels and bags, but asks cleanup volunteers to be prepared by wearing appropriate clothing for a cleanup that involves dead fish.

Red tide is commonly used to describe a higher-than-normal concentration of microscopic algae.

Brevard County Government’s Natural Resources Management Department, in coordination with FWC, continues to collect water samples to detect algae elevation levels of red tide along Brevard County beaches.

All beach areas remain open, but beachgoers are advised to heed warnings posted at beach areas, especially if they feel their health may be at risk.

Brevard County Jail inmate “Chain Gang” members were on Brevard County south beaches picking up the hundreds of dead fish that have washed ashore due to the recent outbreak of red tide.

The Florida Department of Health has posted answers to frequently asked questions about red tide and its health risks at this link, CLICK HERE